Sterilizer



J. P. FLETCHER 'Alril 1, 1924. f

STERILIZER Filed July 8,

Patented Apr. 1, 1924.

J' GEN P. FLETCHER, OF CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

STERILIZER.

Application siedv July s,

To aZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, JoHN P. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Sterilizer, of which the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention generically relates to sur-y gical appliances, more specifically it is di rected to an emergency sterilizer for needles and solutions usedin the administration of hypodermics. i n The fundamentalr purpose of this invention is to produce asterilizer of the type indicated having characteristics rendering it especially efficacious for army field usage.

Another important object of this invention is to eect an inexpensive, compact and efficient sterilizer which may be readily utilized in the field to sterilize hypodermic solutions or needles irrespective of prevailing weather conditions. y i

Other important objects of this invention are to effect a sterilizer having facilities to prevent leakage of the fuel as well as one whichis durable and of the least,

possible dimensions to permit convenient packing in the medical kit or the pocket of the operator depending upon the exigency of the situation. t t

AWith these and other objects in'view ymy invention consists in certain novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be more specifically 'here` inafter set forth and claimed.

Briefly stated this invention embodies an open ended rectangular metallic casing having a hinged wall, a trough arranged transverse of the open end of the casing, an alcohol burner situated beneath the trough in the lower part of the casing and a cap closing the open end of the casing and simultaneously functioning to retain4 the hinged wall in its normal or closed position.

In theaccompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar characters:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section partly in elevation of the sterilizer assembly, the top and hinged wall being shown in open position.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section partly in elevation showing the arrangeportage in 1922. Serial No. 573,678.

ment and construction of the alcohol burner, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view `of the burner collar.

The prevailing army practice in the administration of hypodermics. has been to sterilize the hypodermic needles or solutions by means of a teaspoon, tablespoon or miniature tray held above a small glass alcohol burner. While this proce-dure meets the requirements of the hospital ward and may be employed under normal conditions, it is manifestly highly unsuited to eld service wherein not infrequently, the fuel is lost by leakage or otherwise as the sterilizer is conveyed from patient lto patient, or the ame extinguished at the Vmost inoportune time by the wind. and purpose of this invention to provide a simple compact sterilizer which will overcome these defects and materially aidin the administration of hypodermics under emergency field conditions.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a metallic casing (l) rectangular in configuration andhaving bottom (2), side walls (3), rear walls (4) and a front wall (5) hinged as at (6).

Front wall (5) yis formed with a peripheral flange (7) which when the wall is in its normal or closed position overlies the sides and upper extremities of walls (3). By hinging the wall (5) and providing the peripheral flange aforesaid it may be used as a tray for any purpose desired, while at the same time permitting ready removal of the alcohol burner as will be obvious without further discussion. i

The cap (8) is hinged as at (9) to the rear wall (4) and formed with a peripheral flange (l0) so that when the cap (8) is in its normal posi-tion it not only closes the open end of the casing but also engages the free extremity of hinged wall (5) and securely retains the latter in closed position.

To accommodate the hypodermic needles or solutions to be sterilized, a trough (l1), U-shaped in cross-section and holding about 5 c. c. of solution, is arranged transverse of the open end of the casing between the extremities o-f walls (3). This arrangement causes the flame from the burner, hereinafter to be mentioned, to pass on each side of the trough,

It is therefore the aimk thus increasing the ,no i

heated surface of the trough and expediting heating of its contents.

Within the lower part of the casing immediately below and in suitable heating relation with respect to the trough (11) is disposed an alcohol lamp or burner (12) dimensioned to snugly lit within the casing.. To prevent movement of the burner within the casing the walls of the casing so as to overlie the upper edge of the container as clearly sho-wn in Figure (1) of the drawing. v

Burner (12) consists of a rectangular metallic fuel container having bottom (lll), side walls (13) and top (15), provided with an opening (16). Surrounding the opening (16) is an externally threaded collar (17)k having a bore which isreduced'at a point slightly below the upper extremity of the collar to afford a seat (19).

A wick holder (20) bearing wick (21) isV positioned in the bore (18) which latter at equally distant pointsV is formed with a series of V`shaped grooves (23) communicating with the exterior of the container.

These grooves (23) forml volatilization'causes an overflow of the fueland an undesirable spreading of the flame, both of which defects are eliminated by provision of the passages aforesaid.y

To prevent leakage of the fuel a cap (2A) is threaded onncollar (16), the lower edge` of the collar` bearing against a suitable washer (25,).

In the use of this sterilizer the top andy front walls are brought to position shown in Figure (1) the trough filled with the solution to be sterilized and the burner ignited. After the hypodermic needles orsolution have been sterilized and'it is desiredV to convey the sterilizerto anothery location or place in the'medical kit, the burner cap is positioned on the burner,thehinged wall- (5) folded upwardly and the'eap (8) downbrackets (12) are attached to,

passagesL through which the products of volatilization wardly to close the open end of the casing and at the same time engage the upper extremity of the hinged wall to retain the same in its normal enclosed position.

lnconclusion it will be seen that the above structure provides a sterilizer which is simple, compact and especially adapted to the need for which it is designed.

Although in the foregoing certain eleat its upper end and includiiigrear and side walls, a hinged section normally' forming a closur'efor the open side f of the casing, a burner removably secured within the lower portionofthe casing, a sterilizing trough-in the open end of the casing and a cap fitting said open end and providing a closure for the latter, and the trough, said cap at the same time securing the hinged'section in its normal position. i

2. A sterilizer comprising'a casing open at its upper end and including rear and .side

walls,'a hinged section normally forming aV closure for the open sideV of the casing, said section being .formed along its side andfront edges with' upfs'tanding flanges to provide a tray when saidsectionis loweredto a horizontal positi'onra burner removably secured within the lower portion ofthe casing, a

steriliz'ing trough'. disposed central of the` open end YVof the casing with its extremities -aiiixed to the sidewalls thereof, to permitV the flame to vpass on each side of the trough andex'pedite heating of vfits contents, and, a.

capl closing the open end of the casingv andv the trough saidcap; atthe same time securing the hinged' sectionfin normal position.

JOHN P. FLETCHER.. 

